Environmental stressors suffered by women with gynecological cancers in the aftermath of hurricanes irma and maría in Puerto Rico

Pablo A. Méndez-Lázaro, Yanina M. Bernhardt, William A. Calo, Andrea M. Pacheco Díaz, Sandra I. García-Camacho, Mirza Rivera-Lugo, Edna Acosta-Pérez, Naydi Pérez, Ana P. Ortiz-Martínez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Hurricanes are the immediate ways that people experience climate impacts in the Caribbean. These events affect socio-ecological systems and lead to major disruptions in the healthcare system, having effects on health outcomes. In September 2017, Puerto Rico (PR) and the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) experienced one of the most catastrophic hurricane seasons in recent history (Hurricane Irma was a Category 5 and Hurricane María was a Category 4 when they hit PR). Objective: This study examines environmental stressors experienced by women with gynecologic (GYN) cancers from PR and USVI who received oncologic cancer care in PR, in the aftermath of the hurricanes. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study design was used to obtain rich information for understanding the context, barriers, knowledge, perspectives, risks, vulnerabilities, and attitudes associated to these hurricanes. We performed focus groups among GYN cancer patients (n = 24) and key-informant interviews (n = 21) among health-care providers and administrators. Interviews were conducted from December 2018–April 2019. Results: Environmental health stressors such as lack of water, heat and uncomfortable temperatures, air pollution (air quality), noise pollution, mosquitos, and rats ranked in the top concerns among cancer patients and key-informants. Conclusions: These findings are relevant to cancer patients, decision-makers, and health providers facing extreme events and disasters in the Caribbean. Identifying environmental secondary stressors and the most relevant cascading effects is useful for decision-makers so that they may address and mitigate the effects of hurricanes on public health and cancer care.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number11183
JournalInternational journal of environmental research and public health
Volume18
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2021

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Pollution
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Environmental stressors suffered by women with gynecological cancers in the aftermath of hurricanes irma and maría in Puerto Rico'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this